Man fined for illegal signs at his home

Richardo Alavijeh of Portstewart Road came before North Antrim Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Mr Alavijeh represented himself in court, and asked the District Judge for an adjournment to allow him to prepare his defence.

However, District Judge Alan White, did not grant the defendant the adjournment, and the case proceeded.

A solicitor for the Planning Department told the court that Mr Alavijeh had displayed advertisements without the consent that is required under planning regulations. The signs advertised a garage that the defendant was running from the Portstewart Road address.

The defendant had applied for planning permission to change the use of the premises, but this was refused by planners.

Shona Doherty, a Planning Enforcement Officer, told the court that there were ‘several unauthorised signs’ on the premises.

Ms Doherty told the court that a letter had been sent to Mr Alavijeh on May 19 last year requesting that the signs be removed within 14 days. A further letter was sent on July 6 advising Mr Alavijeh, that if the signs were not removed, the department would proceed with prosecution.

Site visits were carried out throughout 2009 and the signs were still in place.

In his own defence, Mr Alavijeh told the court that he was trying to start a ‘legitimate’ business and said that he didn’t know he needed permission for the advertising signs.

The defendant went on: “My skin colour brings me to court today, I want justice to be done in a supposed democracy. I had no idea it was a crime to start a business, planners are restricting my trade.”

District Judge Alan White found Mr Alavijeh guilty of six counts of contravening the planning regulations. He was fined 300, he will also pay 98 in costs.

The defendant indicated that he would be appealing the case.